Super Typhoon Yagi, one of the most powerful storms of 2024, is part of a growing trend of increasingly intense typhoons and hurricanes in recent years.

Yagi was a “violent storm” this morning, according to Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) classification, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Storms of this magnitude are rare for Hainan, where only nine out of 106 typhoons between 1949 and 2023 were classified as super typhoons.

But these storms are more common now both in the Atlantic and Pacific, a phenomenon closely linked to the effects of the climate crisis, scientists say.

Warmer ocean temperatures are providing the fuel that intensifies these storms, increasing their wind speeds and the amount of rain they produce.

Scientists warn that as the planet continues to warm, typhoons and hurricanes will become more frequent and destructive.

In 2024 alone we’ve seen several powerful storms, including Super Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the Philippines and is now heading towards China, and Hurricane Beryl that tore through the Caribbean, Mexico and the US.

Similarly, Typhoon Shanshan, which hit Japan last week, was the country’s most powerful storm in decades.

These supercharged storms pose significant threats to coastal regions, as they bring not only strong winds but also the risk of extreme flooding and landslides.

Rising sea levels exacerbate this risk, making coastal areas even more vulnerable to storm surges.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain and windstorms this weekend as Yagi approaches the country.

The storm, which is nearing the southeastern Chinese coast, is expected to pass over the Hainan Island in China and reach northern Vietnam by Friday or Saturday, bringing significant weather impacts.

Thanasit Iam-ananchai, acting director general of the Meteorological Department, said northern and northeastern Thailand will see heavy downpours and strong winds on Saturday and Sunday as a result of Yagi’s outer bands.

Coastal areas along the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will also experience monsoon-driven rains today, with warnings of potential flash floods and runoffs.

Small boats were advised to remain ashore along both coasts until Sunday due to rough seas.

While Yagi’s main impact is centred on southern China, it is also expected to affect Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, bringing significant rainfall to the region over the weekend.

Hurricanes and typhoons are essentially the same weather phenomenon, but they are distinguished by their geographic location.Hurricanes are tropical storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Typhoons form in the western Pacific Ocean, including the seas around Asia.Essentially, the same storm would be called a hurricane if it formed in the Atlantic and a typhoon if it formed in the Pacific. They are known as cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australia.

All tropical storms are characterised by low pressure centres and a warm core in which the minimum sustained surface wind is 119 kmph (74 mph).

They cause strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and high winds.

Yagi is now graded as a “very strong” typhoon instead of a “violent typhoon” by the Japan Meteorological Agency after it made landfall in Hainan, China.

The storm has a central pressure of 925 hPa and is packing winds of up to 180 kmph near the centre. But wind gusts can reach as high as 252 kmph.

Very strong typhoons, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, have maximum sustained wind speeds of 157-193 kmph, while violent typhoons have maximum sustained wind speeds of 194 kmph or greater, according to the JMA classification.

Yagi’s eye has reached the northwest tip of Hainan. The storm’s outer bands have been generating heavy rainfall and wind gusts in southeast China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, and Laos.

The storm is expected to weaken over the next few hours as it moves over land, but it will continue on its path to northern and western Vietnam, intensifying rain in Laos and impacting Thailand over the weekend.

Here’s the path of the storm:

China’s southern island of Hainan has evacuated more than 400,000 people ahead of Yagi’s arrival, state media said.

“The southern Chinese province of Hainan had relocated 419,367 residents as of 11.30am on Friday with super typhoon Yagi approaching,” state news agency Xinhua said, citing local authorities.

The eye of Super Typhoon Yagi has reached the northeastern tip of Hainan Island in southern China.

The typhoon’s bands have been lashing the island province since yesterday with the wider region, especially the Guangdong province, also feeling the impact.

Over the next few hours, the storm will slowly move westwards, eventually coming out into the waters again as it takes aim at northern Vietnam next.